Mexico is the second largest economy in Central America

PMA's Fresh Connections Mexico will be held on 11 and 12 May 2016 in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico.

With a growing consumer market, Mexico is the second largest economy in Central America and is expected to become the world's eighth largest economy by 2050. Although almost half of the population still lives in poverty, the Mexican market forecasts are very optimistic. Thanks to company investments, more jobs will be created and their revenues will increase.

Mexico is a major producer of fresh fruits and vegetables; it is a self-sufficient country which only exports 26% of its production and devoted most of it to the domestic market. Approximately 20-25% of the producers are medium or large scale, and they supply two segments: on the one hand, the domestic market through modern retailers, wholesalers and distributors, and on the other hand, the export market. The United States is a very important destination for Mexico, as there are several US companies which grow their products in Mexico and some Mexican producers that are vertically integrated with US distributors.

The mission of the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) is to connect, communicate and find solutions for the benefit of its members. One of PMA's functions is to connect buyers and sellers, i.e. helping people to forge business relationships by providing lists of supermarkets, importers and suppliers of various products, in addition to providing information on global markets, like the US, Asia and Europe. It is also responsible for sharing information on other relevant issues, such as food safety or social responsibility. For example, some current issues include the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) of the US or the standardization of local prices.

In this context, PMA will organise Fresh Connections Mexico on 11 and 12 May, which will provide its members an opportunity to interact, get in touch and do business in the comfort of an event that brings it all together, focused mainly on the Mexican market.

The event will be attended by between 30 and 40 companies and the educational programme will include a wide range of excellent conferences, which will share all kinds of information about the Mexican market, including consumption studies, product descriptions, market developments, etc., which will attract producers and buyers. 

There will be a special breakfast for women in the industry, who are taking increasingly important positions in Mexican companies. The PMA has a database that currently includes more than 200 women only in Mexico, and which continues to grow.

Furthermore, a tour will be organised that will include visits to a tomato production greenhouse and facilities for the cutting and packaging of lettuce, among other places.

With this exhibition, the first to be held in Guanajuato, although not the first in Mexico, the PMA hopes to create a space for the various links in the supply chain to meet and do business. Sometimes, all that is needed is to match the right people in the same place, and that is exactly what PMA's strategy is focusing on.